Granite Falls car gets 231 mpg (Updated, with pictures)

It’s a long way from Granite Falls to Houston, but the trip’s not so bad if your vehicle gets 231 miles per gallon.

That’s the case for a group of students from Granite Falls High School who built an ultra high-mileage vehicle to compete in the Shell Eco-marathon Americas last week.

The team ended up winning second place in the UrbanConcept Diesel Engine category with a top run of 231 miles per gallon. The competition was tough; Lousiana Tech University won the category with a run of 488.7 miles per gallon.

In the gasoline category, Mater Dei High School in Evansville, Ind., won with a phenomenal 2,188 mile per gallon run.

Granite Falls also took home a special safety award for being one of two teams that made the most effort to comply with the event’s safety regulations.

Teacher Michael Werner, a former race car mechanic, has been sending teams to compete in the events since 2009.

Brier Dudley offers a critical look at technology and business issues affecting the Northwest. Send tips or comments to bdudley@seattletimes.com. His column runs Monday, and his commentary appears here all week.